Page 108 of Game Changer

“He’s talking about the Giant’s penis, Lisa. Like an adolescent.”

She sighed and rolled her eyes.

“I dunno, man. Maybe that’s why he really fought with the Scottish Giant. Maybe he mocked his manhood? Maybe… maybe he had a teenie… tiny…”

“Jeremy,” Lisa lifted her hand to silence him, shaking her head in despair.

“C’mon, Lis! You’re telling me, in all the times you’ve been here, it’s never once crossed your mind?”

Lisa laughed at his shocked face, “No, Jer. Never. It’s never once crossed my mind – though that might be because I’m not a teenage boy.”

“As much as I enjoy watching these exchanges. Do you have a pen and paper in that Mary Poppins’ bag of yours, Lis?”

“Eh…” she rustled around and handed him a napkin and pen, eyeing him curiously.

She watched as his tongue creeped out the side of his lips as he frantically scribbled on the napkin. Glancing up, he saw Lisa making a ‘what the hell?’ face to Jeremy.

“Creative types,” he answered as though it were obvious. “Inspiration strikes in the most beautiful of places!”

She smiled and tilted her head, trying to see what he was writing, but AJ quickly folded the napkin, stuffed it in the pocket of his jeans, and offered her back the pen.

“Curious,” she said as she dropped the pen back into her bag. “Ready to move on?”

“Five more minutes?” AJ asked as he sat on top of one of the basalt columns and indicated she should sit against his chest and watch the water with him.

Feels like home,he thought as he nuzzled into her hair.

“The sea air looks good on you, Lis. You look happy here.”

“You know I love the water,” she said quietly, as she took in her surroundings once again. “It’s the Aquarian in me.”

He squeezed her close as the lyrics he’d finally managed to capture, after months of them evading him, played over in his head.I’m just trying to find a better way.

***

“So… that song that’s been bugging you forever finally started speaking to ya, eh?” Jeremy asked quietly as Lisa went to have a shower, leaving the guys to fight over the TV remote.

AJ nodded absently. “Kinda, yeah. At long friggin’ last! I felt like it’s been there, but just a little out of reach. Songs don’t normally take this long for me.”

“I’ve told ya, man. You’re forcing it all. Just relax and let it happen next time.”

AJ raised an eyebrow at his friend.

“Now whose mind is in the gutter?” Jeremy laughed. “Seriously though, it always comes to you and it’s always totally worth the wait.”

***

Jeremy had finally left them alone and AJ and Lisa sat facing each other on opposite ends of the sofa. Lisa’s legs were draped over AJ’s.

“What are you humming? I don’t recognize it,” she asked curiously as his thumbs rubbed the arch of her foot.

“I dunno, something I heard earlier,” he lied, hoping she’d drop it.

A song I’ve been trying to write since you found out about Britt and I just can’t get it out.

“You think Jeremy’s enjoying it here?”

“I do, Lis. We both are. It’s a fantastic trip and we’re loving every second of it.”

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